Dental matrix band



Feb. 28, 1967 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 3,305,928

DENTAL MATRIX BAND Original Filed Dec. 16, 1963 ll:1- TIES: a-

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INVENTOR.

B E N JAM IN F. TOFFLEIMIRE BY W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 19673,305,928 DENTAL MATRIX BAND Benjamin F. Tofllemire, Lafayette, Calif.(41301 Crest Drive, Hemet, Calif. 92343) Original applications Dec. 16,1963, Ser. No. 330,756, now Patent No. 3,237,307, dated Mar. 1, 1966,and Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,371. Divided and this application Nov.20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,817

1 Claim. (Cl. 3263) This application involves divisional subject matterof my copending applications identified as follows: (1) Serial No.330,756, now US. Patent No. 3,237,307, issued March 1, 1966, filedDecember 16, 1963, entitled, Traction Instrument for a Dental MatrixBand (amended title), and (2) Serial No. 406,371, filed October 26,1964, entitled, Traction Instrument for Dental Matrix Band, andcontinuation-in-part of these copending applications.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dental matrix bandthat may be looped and constricted around a patients tooth, the banddefining a pair of arms extending from an arcuate central portion, andthe terminal outer ends of the arms being provided with tractioninstniment-engaging abutments or stops that are made to coact withslotted heads of a traction instrument for exerting a straight pull onthe arms of the band when constricting the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide abutments that will not besheared oif when traction force is exerted thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dental matrixband that is simple in construction, durable and efiicient for thepurpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in theappended claims.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my dental matrixband;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the righthand end of the bandshown in FIGURE 1, both ends of the band being identical;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of my dentalmatrix band;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the right hand end of the bandshown in FIGURE 3, both ends of the band being identical;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are enlarged top plan views of the ends of furtherembodiments of my dental matrix band; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a traction instrument for constrictingany of the foregoing dental matrix bands around a patients tooth.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiments of my invention, itshould be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring now to the dental matrix band A shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, this embodiment of the band has been divided .out of mycopending application, Serial No. 330,- 756, filed December 16, 1963,entitled, Traction Instrument for a Dental Matrix Band (amended title).It has an arcuate central portion 10 and a pair of arms 11 extendingfrom the ends of the arcuate central portion, each arm defining aterminal tip 12 at its outer end. The

band is made of a strip of pliable material and has an inner face 13disposed to embrace the surface morphology of a pat'ents tooth B (seeFIGURE 7), when the strip is looped and constricted around the tooth.Moreover, the strip has an outer face 14 extending the length of thestrip.

It will be noted that a pair of traction instrument-eugaging abutmentsC, or stops, are provided on the terminal tips 12 of the arms 11 soextend substantially at right angles relative to the lengths of theirrespective arms. These abutments are defined by tubular ends 15 thatsurround and embrace rods 16, the tubes being fixed by any suitablemeans to their respective rods. These abutments project in lateraldirections beyond the inner and outer faces 13 and 14, respectively, andthey are reinforced so that the abutments will not be sheared off whentraction force is exerted thereon.

The modified dental matrix band A shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 haveabutments C the latter having been divided out of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 406,- 371, filed October 26, 1964, entitled,Traction Instrument for Dental Matrix Band. The band A is similar inmany respects with the band A, and like reference numerals have beenapplied to corresponding parts. However, the tubular ends 15 thatsurround and embrace the rods 16 project from only one face of thestrip, for instance, outer face 14. The abutments C are reinforced so asto prevent them from being sheared oif when traction force is appliedthereto.

As an added feature, the band A may be pre-contoured with a preformedisthmus groove D in its tooth-embracing or inner face 13 in the samemanner and purpose set forth in my United States Patent No. 3,145,472,entitled, Pro-contoured Dental Matrix Band.

In the further modification shown in FIGURE 5, the matrix band A has anabutment C defined by crimping the outer end of the strip back uponitself, with the crimped portion 17 projecting from a face of the strip,for example, the outer face 14. Of course, an abutment C will beprovided on each outer terminal end 12 of the band A and will bereinforced by the crimped portion 17 so as to prevent shearing whentraction force is exerted thereon.

Referring to the fragmentary showing of a modified form of a dentalmatrix band A shown in FIGURE 6 the abutment C is defined by achannel-shaped member being suitably secured to the outer terminal tip12 of the strip, with this member projecting laterally beyond the innerand outer faces 13 and 14, respectively. Again, it will be understoodthat an abutment C will be provided on each outer terminal tip 12 of thestrip, and it provides reinforcement that will prevent the abutment frombeing sheared 011 when traction force is exerted thereon.

The traction instrument E disclosed in FIGURE 7 is more fullyillustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 406,371. It will bebriefly described so as to bring out the functions of the severalabutments previously mentioned. This instrument has a pair of operatinghandles F, each being provided with a retainer head 18 at its forwardend. A hinge connection 19 secures intermediate portions of the handlestogether, with the hinge being located so as to spread the heads 18apart and thus constrict the selected matrix band around the tooth B,when the rear ends of the handles are moved toward one another.

Each retainer head 18 has a slot 20 extending thereinto and dimensionedto frictionally receive the overlapped arms 11 of the looped matrix band(A, A A or A edgewise. A retainer clamp G may be lightly applied to theoverlapped arms 11 and interposed between the loop 21 of the selectedband and the adjacent head 18.

3 Such a clamp is shown in my United States Patent No. 3,046,659, datedJuly 31, 1962. The abutments on the selected band will bear against theremote head 18. Ratchet lugs 22 are formed on the handles F for lockingthe latter in closed position, and a spring 23 yieldingly urges the rearends of the handles apart, and at the same time urging the heads 18toward one another. After the clamp G is crimped on the arms 11, thetraction instrumerit may be withdrawn from the patients mouth.

It will be apparent that when the abutments C or C project from both theinner face 13 and outer face 14, as in FIGURES 12 and 6, and the stripis made flat, either face may be placed next to the banded tooth B.However, when the band is pre-contoured, as in FIGURE 3, it is advisablethat the abutments C or C should project from the outer face of thestrip, as shown in FIGURES 34 and 5, since the inner face 13 must beplaced next to the banded tooth B. In any event, the abutments willpermit a straight-line pull to be exerted on the outer terminal tips 12of the dental bands by the retainer heads 18 of the traction instrumentE.

The material constituting the abutments may be spot- Welded, soldered,crimped, or otherwise secured together, so as to prevent the abutmentsfrom unravelling during the application of the traction force.

I claim: A dental matrix band comprising: (a) a strip of pliablematerial having an arcuate central portion and a pair of arms extendingfrom the ends terminal tip at its outer end; (b) the strip having innerand outer faces;

(c) a pair of traction instrument-engaging abutments provided on theterminal tips of the arms to extend at substantially right anglesrelative to the lengths of their respective arms;

(d) the abutments projecting laterally beyond at least one face of thestrip, and being reinforced so that they will not be sheared ofi whentraction force is exerted thereon;

(e) the terminal tip and abutment on one arm being independent andunsecured to the terminal tip and abutment of the other arm, whereby thearms may be selectively moved into parallel contacting relation with oneanother or the arms freely separated relative to each other;

(i) the abutments being defined by independent tubular ends on the tipsof the strip that surround and embrace separate rods, the tubes beingfixed to their respective rods.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,973 12/1889Mehlig 32-63 2,521,467 9/1950 Lewis 3263 2,722,746 11/1955 Brenner 32632,771,677 11/ 1956 Curry 32-63 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,020,102 2/ 1953 France.

of the arcuate central portion, each arm defining a RICHARD A. GAUDETPrimary Examiner.

I. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner.

